SONATA CABIN BIG, COMFY, ACCORD VERY PLUSH
The insides of the Sonata are less conservative than the exterior. The wide fascia is two-tone, split in the centre by a long strip of wood, and rises and dips over the central console like that of the Mercedes S-Class. The super-sounding music system is integrated into the top half of the soft-feel dash, the fake wood is of a higher quality than that on the Accord, and the sheer width of the cabin and space gives a great sense of luxury.
However, material quality is a mixed bag. The quality of the steering wheel is not a patch on that of the Accord, the vents don't exude the same quality, the HVAC controls are plasticky and the stalks are a carry-over. The power windows don't function with the hush expected of a car in this class and compared to the Accord's stunning electroluminiscent dials, the Sonata's instrument panel looks ordinary.
The problem is that the Sonata is up against one of the best interiors in the business, especially the super combo of the sharp design and quality. It fares much better on the comfort front however, actually putting its nose ahead of the Accord in this case. The front seats have just the right amount of support, are wide, well designed and comfortable on long journeys. The driver, like on the Honda, gets power adjustment for his seat, manual lumbar support and even more space than the Accord.
The rear too is more comfortable than that of the Accord. The wide rear seat has the most supportive backrest, a seat that's almost as comfortable as that of the Camry (the best in the business) and rear seat passengers also get a remote control for the music system, an intelligent inclusion not found on many more expensive cars.
The air-con systems on both function well but the Accord has the edge in this department. Temperatures can be split left and right and the large vents send a gust of cool air in
your direction rather than the jet you get from the Sonata. Still, none of these cars have rear vents, that are found on the Camry.